Razer Pro V1.6 review: Razer Pro V1.6

Razer-brand mice are already favorites of serious gamers, but now the company is targeting creative professionals with the Razer Pro V1.6. This $59 mouse is comfortable for both left- and right-handed users, and it offers the ability to adjust sensitivity at the touch of a button--a feature we've seen only on more gaming mice, such as the Logitech MX518. For creatives not satisfied with regular mice, the Razer Pro is a great option, but general users should stick with the Microsoft Wireless Optical Mouse 5000, which offers horizontal scrolling and programmable buttons and costs $20 less.

The Razer Pro works with both Windows and Macintosh PCs, and the included software offers the same functions for each operating system. The software adds its control panel to your desktop and offers one of our favorite features: on-the-fly sensitivity adjustment, and better yet, you can choose which button changes sensitivity. The Razer Pro does work as a plug-and-play device, but interestingly enough a note included in the packaging warns that the mouse requires more power than the average mouse, so you should not connect it to a USB hub.

The Razer Pro has a very comfortable design: its body is gently curved to provide just enough support for your hand whether you are left or right handed, and the left and right buttons cradle your fingers. When plugged in, the wheel and the edges glow neon blue. Rocker switches, which function as two buttons, are placed on the left and right sides of the mouse; however, they're placed too far back to be reached easily. Additionally, the rocker-switch design makes it difficult to master hitting only a single button; in tests, we found ourselves hitting the switch smack dab in the middle. Also, reaching the rocker buttons on the opposite side of the mouse is difficult; we found it easiest to use our third and fourth fingers to press the buttons. We really appreciate all this added usability, but we wish the buttons were more accessible.

In our tests, the Razer Pro worked like a dream. The 1,600-dot-per-inch sensor provided precise movements, and we appreciated the ease of adjusting sensitivity on the fly. We didn't experience any lags or tracking errors, and the button assignments we made in the software were executed flawlessly. Our only complaint is with the scrollwheel: we wish it were more sensitive; it clicks, instead of smoothly scrolling, and doesn't offer horizontal scrolling.

The Pro comes with a two-year limited warranty. The Web site offers FAQs, live support chat, and a support e-mail address.